MS Dhoni once again faces flak for his slow knock against Bangladesh

India wicketkeeper MS Dhoni came under yet another spree of criticism for his show with the bat. The wicketkeeper-batsman came out to bat at No.6 to score 35 off 33 balls at a strike rate of 106.6 and the fans were not happy with his show in the slog overs against the match against Bangladesh at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

India were 255 for 4 in 41 overs but could end up with only 314 for 9 in 50 overs. Dhoni still had a brisk partnership with youngster Rishabh Pant (48 off 41 balls) but after the latter departed, the senior batsman could not lead the charge and India could manage only 37 runs in the final 35 balls.

The 37-year-old faced a backlash after failing to accelerate in the final overs against England at the same venue on Sunday. On that occasion, Virat Kohli’s side was chasing 338 for win but Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav could manage only 39 runs in the last 31 balls to see India reaching 306 with five wickets still in hand.

Dhoni struggled to score fast

Dhoni’s performance with the willow in World Cup 2019 has come under the scanner repeatedly. Ever since he struggled against Afghanistan with a 52-ball 28 and failed to accelerate the scoring when it mattered and got stumped to a spinner out of desperation to score, the former captain has been blasted time and again for his slow approach. He also struggled against the West Indies at Old Trafford by scoring his first 23 off 43 balls. However, a late surge helped him mask the initial slowness and he ended up on 56 not out off 61 balls.

After Dhoni failed to press on the accelerator in the match against Bangladesh, the knives were with the fans predicting that the end is not too for one of India’s greatest cricketers. Some also said that he was playing for himself and not the team. However, India eventually prevailed over a spirited Bangladesh in Birmingham by registering a 28-run win, thanks to a late burst from pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bumrah ended up with 4 for 55, his best bowling figures in this World Cup so far.

Here are some of the reactions that the Twitterati came up with over Dhoni’s batting performance:

Dear @msdhoni You should learn something from M.Safiuddin… Really you are playing very slow man. You are not connecnting well in the bat. Please change your way of bating..please????

— Narayon Roy (@NarayonRoy14) July 2, 2019

@BCCI please allow ms dhoni to retire..last overs slow batting…many talent youngsters are waiting..

— Arun CS (@aruncskerala) July 2, 2019

So today also @msdhoni continues to prove that he will not change the way he pace his innings and will continue to play slow. Still can’t understand what is the difference b/w Dhoni who plays for CSK and INDIA. Team suffers a lot from his innings and loose momentum in middle over

— Yash Tandon (@imyash100) July 2, 2019

Since i watched cricket i have always supported MS DHONI , always thought he was doing his best but seeing him struggle to score 7 runs per over it really hurts , is the pitch really became so slow after 40 overs that they are not able to score 70 runs in last 10..#INDvBAN

— Rohan Mishra (@rohanmi83107908) July 2, 2019

Big lesson for @msdhoni and team from @BCBtigers , dnt make xcuse taht pitch is slow and shitty things fight till d last ball..superb fighback gng on #indvsban

— BRIJESH YADAV (@brijeshyadav24) July 2, 2019

Even saifuddin is having great hitting against one of the best bowling unit in tournament and that too on slow pitch. What is your excuse??? Great finisher @msdhoni

— Vinod Mane (@vinodmane20) July 2, 2019

Congratulations @msdhoni for semifinals..Your batting Is as slow as rahul Gandhi’s Mindset #INDvBAN

— bhai Saheb (@Bhai_saheb) July 2, 2019

@BCCI @ICC @imVkohli @msdhoni All knows pitch is slow, 6 wickets down still see the intention of Bangladesh players. Trying their best. Intention is do or die.

— Subhakanta nayak (@Subha8668) July 2, 2019

why ms dhoni make slow runs during death overs#AskStar

— Neetu singh (@Neetu08060925) July 2, 2019

Why @klrahul11 and @msdhoni play so slow ??
Just to convince the opposition that they stand a chance against India??

Just a thought @cricketworldcup #IndiaVsBangladesh

— Lavish Khetan (@lavishkhetan) July 2, 2019

@msdhoni is not at all able to deliver in final overs, he is building pressure on co-batsman for past 5 matches

Even @sachin_rt has critisized him for slow paced inning…

— Dr. Dinesh Goyal (@skmandin13) July 2, 2019

Ms Dhoni ki iss slow batting ko mein kadi sabdo mein ninda karta hun.#INDvBAN

— Thakur Sahab (@Angry_Engg) July 2, 2019

Disappointed by Another slow innings by @msdhoni Charm lost and very bad innings which can cost Team India. Last 10 overs only 60 odd runs @StarSportsIndia @ndtv @sanjaymanjrekar #DhoniAtCWC19

— Abhay Manjeshwar (@abhaymanj2006) July 2, 2019

MS Dhoni is that tortoise who goes slow and steady but still loses the race. #CWC19 #INDvBAN

— Gobar Singh (@Useless_Sperm0) July 2, 2019

@imVkohli do v really need @msdhoni anymore? He is just not able to inject any momentum into d innings, rather he s a momentum killer. N it eventually affects d batsman at d oder end, who feel d urge to score even faster to mk up fr @msdhoni slow scoring

— Rohan Pokhare (@RonTheDonRules) July 2, 2019

If we had year 2007’s MS Dhoni.. he would have forced today’s MS Dhoni to take retirement & make way for a new talent. Dravid & Ganguly can vouch for it.

— Paresh Rawal fan (@Babu_Bhaiyaa) July 2, 2019

Dhoni doing a great job of slowing down the run rate

— New Zealandennis (@DennisCricket_) July 2, 2019

Dhoni’s new role as the cricketing equivalent of your rich, eccentric uncle who wears mismatched socks and refuses to even acknowledge societal norms is perfect. #CWC19

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) July 2, 2019

Remember the name..it’s MS Dhoni, the new Liability of Team India. Refused 2 easy singles before being caught off the third in the 50th over of the innings. Pathetic Mr Dhoni, you are playing for India & so is Bhuvi! #TeamIndia #CWC19 #INDvBAN

— Tridib Baparnash (@TridibIANS) July 2, 2019

This innings yet again underlines that the end is not only near, it’s here #Dhoni #CWC19 #IndvBan

— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) July 2, 2019